SFM Cloth Dolls with Attitude! NZ

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

This is a doll I have made & remade! Sometimes it takes a while to get it right! I called her Christel Belle, Seeker of True Love! She reminded me of a friend of mine by the same name with an uncanny likeness, so last weekend I gave it to her!

These dolls are our group attempt at making Sheryl D'Ath's "All about Eve!" Pattern. We started it before the Wellingotn Workshop in Nov, but only completed it afterwards! Our group found it very interesting to do and learned a lot of new techniques!

They liked the way the doll is so pose-able

and grouped together can imagine conversations!

You can see how the dress designing skills kicked in here, with different styles presented by the dollmakers!

This cheeky little chap was made by Jean, who loves Frogs! It's Jill Maas''s pattern -

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Sheryl D'Ath and I had the best time in Wellington last weekend, with a wonderful doll group The Dollectables! Sheryl designed the doll and I wrote it up. It is called "All about Eve"! The pattern can be bought from Sheryl, or from Cloth Doll Designer, or Dollmakers Journey!

I took all my gear - a better way of carrying it rather than my usual bucket! It rolls up nice and small! Not exactly elegant, but it does the job!

Sheryl thoughtfully had body parts made up to show how it is constructed.

All the kits laid out and more fabric, plus dyed mohair that Sheryl had wefted ready for use!

Here is the line-up of dolls on display. Mine is the little one standing. Sheryl also made the bears! She is world class with her bears!

Everyone getting down to painting the faces!

Someone is excited to learn how to fix mistakes and also to make an open mouth!

Getting it all together! this delightful lady gave us chocolate and made the most delicious lemon cakes! We were spoiled and we so appreciated it!

Here is Sheryl in full swing! She's the one in black and the designer of the dolls we were making!

A close up of Sheryl's doll. This is the same doll made in many different ways! Look at the shoes she made too!

More of the dolls! The small ones she called Trinket!Aren't they gorgeous with the wee bears? The undies are made from stretch lace! I made a 'Frock' Pattern and the one with the jandals (flip-flops) is wearing a 'Frock'!

Working on the faces and getting the bodies sewn up!

A line-up of all the heads! Fascinating that it's the same head made in twelve different ways! Lots of learning here. They were shown how potentially disastrous faces could be changed to look more like it, and how to undo and start again with more pleasing results. These ladies were pleased to be able to learn different techniques from both of us and what other tools could do the job better and faster. It was so worthwhile for us all! They have invited me back next year, so that's a good sign!

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Alice's flexibility is continuously challenged as she walks past the critical flowers in her life, who look down at her. She follows a neurotic rabbit, meets up with bully boys, who always want to fight over silly things like a broken rattle, love to argue, but never contradict each other, talk about having a battle, but get too carried away with sports and things and in the end are scared of upsetting authority!

She takes advice from an old caterpillar, entering the early stages of metamorphoses and who asks her several times, the important question - "WHO ARE YOU?" Alice replies, "Well, I knew who I was this morning, but I have changed so many times since then!"

Her only real friend is the Cheshire Cat, who always leaves her with a smile, and she has to deal with Queens!

Yes. a lot like us!

I am delighted to be asked to display my Alice In Wonderland Dolls at the Oamaru Opera house until Friday the 13th this month, where Victorian Week will be launched from, so they will have a wide audience. I have been making these all year, as well as four large Marionettes! It has been a very enjoyable process for me and I am amazed at the response I have had from people far and near.